What matters more to you? Money or purpose of work?

A few days ago I bumped into a report stating that Gen Z (people born between 1997 – 2012) are more likely to choose a job with purpose for society than with a higher salary. [Motivators of selecting a workplace for Gen Z "Impact for society" (93%) > "Competitive salary" (63%)] – I will leave the report in the comments. My questions are (and I know that if you are a founder of a company you look at things a little bit differently), anyway: ● What matters to you more? (Money vs. Purpose of work) ● What is the minimum salary range you would have to get to care more about the purpose of the job than the money?

Replies

Ramy Wafaa
Money is what makes a reward for your work, if you work so hard for so many years and you feel that you are getting less money your spark will dim and you'll lose the passion .. both are important and crucial to success.
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Kostya Bolshukhin
Pls add 3rd option "Yes"
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Royce Wong
Purpose is paramount, but financial sustainability is its lifeblood.
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Royce Wong
@busmark_w_nika exactly. Resources, especially financial, are undeniably the backbone of most endeavors. Without them, even the most purpose can remain just an aspiration.
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Success.ai
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Purpose of work drives long-term satisfaction and fulfillment, outweighing monetary gains for many, especially among Gen Z. Personally, a meaningful job that makes a positive impact is paramount, with a fair salary as the baseline to ensure financial stability.
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Priyanka Saini
In my point of view, it all comes down to what’s lacking in your life. When you have enough money to meet your basic needs, you can focus on the purpose of your work. However, if you lack financial stability, your primary goal becomes achieving it so you can think about other things. Our generation has always worked for money so that the next generation can think beyond it. That's why Gen Z loves taking risks and being adventurous, because their parents have already met their financial needs. They don't overthink and experiment more in life. We didn't have that choice; our goal was to find well-paying jobs that matched our skills and interests. So, your purpose in life often depends on what you lack.
Alexandra Goss
Work-life balance Making a lot of money is a great motivation, but if it starts to put a strain on my relationships, it's no longer worth it Same with purpose/values/impact - I can't think of anything more important in this world than my family
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Simona O'Neill
So I can totally see why Gen Zs would not care about money as much . Their parents had/have more of it and perhaps showed them that there’s more to life than money 😊All three of my kids were born in that period so know it first hand. I genuinely think that younger generations are less money oriented because they had a better and more fulfilling childhood. Plus they are spoiled for choice when it comes to careers and opportunities. I personally always wanted to make more money so my kids had more than I did and struggled less. Me and my husband had to make a number of sacrifices to make it happen. But there’s definitely a moral norm. I would never do a job I hate just because of money. I’ll always find one I like better. Money can be earned in so many ways if you utilise every skill you have. But I think the more financial freedom you feel the less you care about monetary benefits. Unless you’re greedy and selfish of course. As for the salary bracket, I think it depends on your living costs, circumstances and your environment. But in general once you have a nice home to live in , bills paid and food on the table …everything else is a luxury. That’s when you can start thinking of what you really want to do in life .
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Simona O'Neill
For sure! And yes, I really hate watching people stuck in a rut and hating going to work every day. It really shows. My father in law was in the same job for 40 years and dreaded going in every day. So he went to a pub after work to make himself feel somewhat better 🙄. He only felt better when he retired though . What a miserable way to live eh . @busmark_w_nika
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Konrad S.
The money does not matter ultimately for me, but is obviously important to 1) support existing beneficial organisations / projects 2) implement my own beneficial projects BTW, I'm not GenZ, I'm Millennial
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Richa Chordia
While both money and purpose are important, I find that having a sense of purpose in my work ultimately matters more. When my work aligns with my values and passions, it not only brings fulfillment but also drives me to achieve greater things, often leading to financial rewards as a byproduct.
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First, I want to make money. Once I become wealthy, I want to discover a new sense of purpose.
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Boris Markarian
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For me, the purpose of my work is 10 times more important than money (that's why I work for free as a substitute of my professor at the university), but that doesn't mean that I don't need money. I need them and I need a lot, so I don't focus on surviving and trying to spend less and save more, but on my job and its purpose. Of course, when you become a billionaire, it's not about the amount of money, it's about the purpose and impact on the world.
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Milli Sen
Purpose of work would be far more satisfying
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Tim Liao
Off course is purpose of work. In today's society, it's actually quite easy to make enough money to survive by simply selling our time in various forms. However, finding meaningful work or the meaning of life is much harder. How can we exist in this world without just selling our time? We should seek the meaning of our own lives. Inspired by speeches from Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, I've learned valuable lessons. Steve suggested living each day as if it were our last, to better decide what to do and what not to do. Elon advised finding a cause that excites us every morning, something worth striving for. We need positive and ambitious visions to pursue.
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Tim Liao
@busmark_w_nika I don't believe that seeking meaningful work is exclusive to the very wealthy. For instance, in polls where 80% chose work meaning, it doesn't exceed any particular limits. Additionally, achieving this state isn't just about being passionate about something; it also involves reducing the desires driven by consumerism, which isn't very difficult. Finding one's purpose in life doesn't require money. Just take some time everyday to think of ourself.
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Carlvensky St Fleur
I would rather choose the purpose of work, but a few years back, I would've selected money.
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Yatheen Brahma
Both are important for me, but the one thing that has more importance is Purpose of work, If what I do is important for me it will eventually bring more money.
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Antonio Di Pinto
Money it's important until a specific level, if you work for 1k a month, and you receive a raise to match 3k, the motivational boos is real. If you already have 10k monthly from a business (not necessary your business), if you raise to 15k, the motivational boost is not the same, will last just a few days after you receive the paycheck. So basically my answer is "it depends"
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Antonio Di Pinto
@busmark_w_nika once you pass the "security level", covering your needs, of course you become picky, you check more the company, the project the environment. Money can give you security but your 9h per day life it's still influenced by the purpose or better said, how you feel at work
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Violeta Redig
For me, purpose is more important. I’d rather work on something meaningful even if it pays a bit less. It’s the sense of contributing to something bigger that keeps me motivated.
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Emilio Chongbang
I focus on money for stability, but having a purpose at work definitely adds value.
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Enyi Bassey
I’d say purpose is key for me. Even if the salary isn’t top-notch, knowing that my work benefits others is what matters most. A good salary is a bonus, not the main driver.
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Henry
To be honest, both are important. Money ensures my basic needs are met, and once I'm fed, I can work more dedicatedly. A fulfilling job brings joy, making it feel more like a hobby than work.
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